<b>Chapter </b>247
Author’s POV<b>: </b>
<b>Jade </b>stood in the hospital parking lot, staring up at the fourth floor where Ss’s mother was recovering.
Chase leaned against his <b>car</b>, keys dangling from his fingers, “Jade, where to now? I’m starving”
She nced at her watch. <b>Ss </b>had been unconscious for nearly a day. His mother’s condition had stabilized. Initially, Jade hadn’t nned to get involved in Ss’s family drama–It wasn’t her business. <b>But </b>knowing his mother <b>was </b>also Dusk’s mother changed things.
“Chase, do <b>you </b>know where we might find someone who gambles too much and drinks <b>even </b>more?” she asked, her voice deliberately casual.
p with understanding. “You want to find his father.” It wasn’t a question “Hell yes
yes, I know exactly where to look.”
Chase’s eyes lit up
She turned to him. “Then let’s go.”
The underground gambling
bling den was located beneath aundromat in one of Princetons seedier neighborhoods. They arrived just as amotion erupted at the back entrance. A middle–aged man with thinning hair and <b>a </b>beer <b>gut </b>was being forcibly removed by two burly security guards.
by out, Murphy!” one of the guards shouted. “Don’te back until you can <b>pay </b>what you owe!”
“And stay
Ss’s father brushed off his dirty jacket <b>and </b>spat on the ground. “Fuck you! I was winning! You rigged those machines!”
They sat in the car, watching as he staggered down the alley, muttering curses. Chase’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. Jade said nothing, merely nodding when he turned on the headlights, illuminating Murphy in their harsh re.
The man turned, squinting <b>into </b>the light, <b>and </b>had the audacity to spit toward their car. “The fuck you looking at?” he slurred,
Chase was out of the car before jade could stop him–not that she would <b>have</b>. “Hey! You!” be called out, his voice sharp in the night air.
Murphy turned, swaying slightly, “What do you want,
rich boy?”
<b>Chase’s </b>first punch <bnded </b>squarely on Murphy’s jaw, sending him sprawling. Without hesitation, Chase grabbed the front of Murphy’s shirt and dragged him deeper into the alley<b>, </b><b>away </b>from prying eyes. Jade followed <b>at </b>a leisurely pace, watching as Chase mmed the older man against a brick wall.
“Look at me<b>, </b>you piece of shit,” <b>Chase </b>growled,nding another punch to Murphy’s stomach. “Take a <b>good </b>look at who’s beating the crap out of <b>you</b>. I’m Ss’s ssmate.”
Murphy’s eyes widened in recognition before another blow made him double <b>over</b>.
“Your son is in the hospital, Chase continued<b>, </b>punctuating each word with a blow, “Your wife is dying. And what are you doing? Cambling away what little money you have left.”
“Please,” Murphy whimpered, blood trickling from his split lip. “I won’t do it again, I swear.“
“You’re damn right you won’t.” Chase grabbed Murphy by the cor, forcing him to look up. “If I ever hear you fald a hand on either of them again, I’lle <b>back </b>and finish what I started. You understand me?
Murphy nodded frantically, tears mixing with the blond on his face.
“You’re garbage,” Chase spat. “No, you’re worse than garbage. You’re a monster who beats his wife and son. What kind of man does that?”
Jade watched the scene with detached interest, making no move to Intervene. Some lessons needed to be learned the hard way.
Back in the <b>car</b>, Chase flexed his bruised knuckles, a satisfied expression on his <b>face</b>. “What a waste of human life,” that… that animal <b>have </b>a son like Ss? It must be some gic mutation.”
Jade smiled slightly. “My brother Max is kind of a gic mutation too<b>,</b><b>” </b>
“Your brother?” Chase’s interest was immediately piqued. “When do I get to meet this mysterious sibling of yours?”
“When he gets into Princeton, she replied. “You’ll see him then.”
he muttered. “How <b>can </b>
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